Managing supply chains for better occupational safety and health compliance

A growing influence on OSH

Across construction and agri‑food sectors, supply chain relations of buyers and suppliers increasingly influence how work is organised and controlled. This means OSH outcomes are no longer shaped only at company level ─ decision‑makers upstream in the chain play a decisive role.

OSH improves most when firms use both:

• Contractual governance: formal requirements, standards, certifications, audits.
• Relational governance: collaboration, dialogue, shared goals.

This hybrid approach helps distribute responsibilities fairly, enhances trust, and creates continuous improvement throughout the chain.

Practical leverage instruments

• Clear OSH criteria in tendering and procurement.
• Transparent supplier selection requirements.
• Stronger, OSH-focused contract clauses.
• Ongoing collaborative follow-up with suppliers.
• Culture of trust and collaboration.

Sector specific insights: construction and agrifood

Construction:

• Emphasising shared safety culture between clients and contractors is a particularly effective strategy.
• Safety culture plays a crucial role when multiple contractors interact.
• Shared understandings, worker engagement and bottom-up communication are essential.

Agri‑food:

• Hybrid governance increases trust and responsibility sharing.
• Results show measurable improvements to OSH and working conditions.

Policy pointers for regulators and practitioners

• Findings show that market leverage can play a significant role in advancing OSH in the supply chain, but market leverage cannot replace regulation.
• Include transparent OSH criteria in public and private procurement.
• Address the particular challenges faced by SMEs in meeting supply chain requirements.
• Integrate procurement and CSR/social‑sustainability teams to give OSH higher priority.
• Use longer‑term contracts to enable supplier stability and investment.
• Build trust through regular physical visits and open dialogue ─ including on OSH.
• Maintain flexible delivery terms and support suppliers when unforeseen issues arise.